Atlanta has lost 10 of their last 13, and things have gone so poorly that the Giants nearly swept them last weekend, but for an act of rain that postponed the final game of the series to August. They’ve allowed 5 runs per game during this stretch while averaging just 3.2 runs scored. It’s probably not a staggering surprise despite Atlanta’s division-leading record and top 10 lineup because this is the sort of thing that befalls every team during the regular season. But, of course, they’re playing the 2026 San Francisco Giants, a team that offers every other team the opportunity to turn things around right away.
I am writing this preview far too late for anyone to read it, but as of this publication, the Giants still don’t have starters named for this series. Drew Cavanaugh is slated to be promoted to take the spot of the injured Daniel Susac. Heliot Ramos might also be activated. It’s hard to guess but, more importantly, maybe a little harder to care. The Giants aren’t a good baseball team and it’s a shame we can’t just fast forward to the end of the season like a baseball video game sim.
Atlanta did trade for Joey Bart after the Giants series, so add him to the list of former Giants who will be returning to Oracle Park. You’ve got Mauricio Dubon, Dominic Smith, and, of course, Mike Yastrzemski; but also, J.P. Martinez is Atlanta’s bullpen coach and Antoan Richardson is the first base coach. I wonder if these guys returning to San Francisco will feel a little bit like returning to one’s hometown long after graduating high school. “Wow, everything is exactly the same… for better or worse.”
The Giants are 5-5 since the anti-Pride Night protest, and are 10-11 on the month, meaning that this series gives them a shot to actually have a winning month this season, a feat that seemed impossible even a week ago.
Who: San Francisco Giants (33-47) vs. Atlanta Braves (48-31)
Where: Oracle Park | San Francisco, California
When: Friday at 7:15pm PT, Saturday at 6:05pm PT, Sunday at 1:05pm PT
National broadcasts: None
Projected starters
Friday: TBD vs. Reynaldo Lopez (RHP 3-1, 3.50 ERA)
Saturday: TBD vs. Bryce Elder (RHP 5-5, 3.71 ERA)
Sunday: TBD vs. Chris Sale (LHP 8-5, 2.14 ERA)
Prediction time
Thank goodness for Max Muncy… seriously! In the last series preview, I predicted “An A will hit a home run,” and that’s exactly what happened. An A (Max Muncy) hit the lone home run of the series for West Sacramento. As to the second prediction, “The Giants will do something really dumb,” I think I was spot on there, too, given all that transpired off the field.
So, for this series I’ll just say that somebody in the pool of Joey Bart, Mauricio Dubon, Mike Yastrzemski, and Dom Smith will homer. I also predict that we will see Yaz throw out Jung Hoo Lee or vice versa.
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